1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder – 2012 Monterey Auctions

When it comes to collectible sports cars, few cars if any can live up to the legend that is the California Spyder. With its exceptional hand-built bodywork by Scaglietti, and race bred 3 liter V-12 capable of roughly 296 bhp, the California was a desirable car from day one. Only 54 of these short wheelbase cars were produced, and of those only 37 came with the optional and vastly better looking covered headlights.

For those of you that can't quite place it, get on your 80s movie-trivia thinking caps on. That's right, remember Ferris Bueller's Day Off? That's the car, sort of. The production crew used a fiberglass-bodied replica based on an MG platform, which isn't unexpected as the real-deal 250 GT Californias were already selling for astronomical prices by then.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

This California spent its early life in Brussels, Belgium in the collection of young racing enthusiast and collector Freddy Daman before being shipped stateside in 1970. It subsequently received a world-class restoration and by the 1990 Pebble Beach Concours was recognized as best-in-class. As with most cars up for auction in Monterey, the documentation on this car is as extensive as one would expect for the premium its expected to fetch.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

After British radio sensation Chris Evans scooped up his SWB California back in 2008 for a record-shattering $10,894,900, I can't help but wonder whether this one could climb to that level as well. As time goes on fewer and fewer of these cars will be changing hands and recession or not, it seems the sky is the limit when it comes to this absolutely quintessential Ferrari.

A Part of Hearst Digital Media
Road & Track participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.